The Lakers had Memphis right where they wanted them — down 18 points, looking lifeless, their home crowd growing restless. Then Ja Morant reminded everyone why he’s one of the most dangerous players in basketball when his back’s against the wall.
The explosive guard delivered his first triple-double of the season — 28 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists — orchestrating one of the most jaw-dropping comebacks of the NBA season as the Grizzlies obliterated Los Angeles 131-114 at FedExForum on Wednesday night.
Memphis scored 60 points in the fourth quarter. Sixty. The kind of offensive explosion that leaves opposing coaches staring at stat sheets in disbelief.
From Dead to Dangerous in 12 Minutes
Trailing 89-71 entering the final frame, the Grizzlies turned what looked like a blowout loss into a statement victory. Morant poured in 14 fourth-quarter points while threading passes through traffic like he was playing a video game on rookie mode.
“We just stayed together,” said Morant, who shot a crisp 11-of-20 from the field. “Coach kept telling us to trust the process, and we knew if we executed our offense, the shots would fall.”
They fell all right. Memphis connected on a scorching 19-of-41 attempts from three-point range (46.3%), turning FedExForum into a launching pad.
The performance made him just the third player in franchise history to post at least 28 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists in a single game — joining Mike Conley Jr. and Marc Gasol in the record books.
Jackson Jr. and Bane Fuel the Fire
Jaren Jackson Jr. looked every bit the Defensive Player of the Year candidate on offense, dropping 24 points on efficient 9-of-15 shooting. The 6-foot-11 forward’s four three-pointers kept the Lakers’ defense honest, creating driving lanes for his backcourt partner.
But the real dagger came from an unexpected source. Desmond Bane torched LA’s second unit for 22 points off the bench, connecting on 5-of-9 from deep with the kind of rhythm shooting that makes coaches fall in love with their bench units.
“Des came in with great energy,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “When he’s knocking down shots like that, it opens up everything for Ja and Jaren to operate.”
Davis’ Absence Proves Costly for Lakers
Los Angeles entered without Anthony Davis, sidelined with a stress reaction in his right foot, and the defensive anchor’s absence showed. The Grizzlies shot 54.4% from the field and outscored LA in the paint 68-42 — the kind of interior dominance that happens when teams lack a rim protector.
LeBron James did his part with 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists, but at 38, he can’t carry this kind of defensive load for 48 minutes. Russell Westbrook managed just 14 points on 6-of-16 shooting, while Austin Reaves chipped in 16 but got picked apart by Memphis’ perimeter attack.
The Lakers held their 71-53 lead into the third quarter before everything unraveled. A 12-0 Memphis run — capped by back-to-back Morant bombs — cut the deficit to single digits and shifted the momentum permanently.
Bench Depth Decides the Battle
The numbers tell the story of this collapse: Memphis outscored Los Angeles 58-31 from the bench. When your reserves get doubled up, you’re not winning many games in this league.
Ziaire Williams added 11 points and David Roddy contributed 8 points and 6 rebounds in spot minutes. Meanwhile, Malik Beasley’s 13 points represented the Lakers’ highest bench contribution — a damning indictment of their depth.
“We’ve got to find more consistent production from our second unit,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said afterward, his frustration evident. “You can’t win games in this league when you’re getting outplayed that badly off the bench.”
Statement Made, Message Sent
This wasn’t just Memphis snapping a three-game losing streak or improving to 15-8. This was a franchise announcing they belong in the Western Conference’s upper tier, even without some of their key pieces from last season’s playoff run.
The 60-point quarter tied a franchise record and marked their largest comeback victory of the season — the kind of performance that shifts narratives and builds championship confidence.
Up next: a Friday night showdown with Denver that suddenly feels like a measuring stick game. The Nuggets better bring their hard hats — this Memphis team just discovered they can score with anybody.
